Syllabus

Advanced Placement

Comparative Government and Politics

Course Syllabus

Course Description

This comparative government and politics course takes a country-by-country approach with heavy emphasis on cross-country conceptual comparisons.  The first unit of study focuses on concepts, vocabulary, theory, and the same theoretical framework we will use to analyze each of the six countries and the EU.  Students are required to constantly think back to countries studied previously to compare institutions, political systems including parties and elections, economic development and levels of democracy.

Textbooks

Kesselman, Introduction to Comparative Politics, 6^th edition. Boston: Wadsworth, 2012

Patrick O’Neil. Essentials of Comparative Politics. New York: W.W Norton, 2004

Christian Soe, Comparative Politics.  McGraw Hill, 2005

Current event articles form the Economist, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post are introduced on a regular basis

AP website supplements including briefing papers on democratization and Globalization

Course Outline

Unit I

Introduction: Concepts in comparative government and key terms

            The course provides instruction on the following key concepts:

-       Sovereignty, Authority, and Power

-       Political and Economic change

-       Citizens, Society, and the State

-       Political Institutions

-       Public Policy

-       Nations, States, and Nation-States

(Assessment is based on previous AP test FRQ prompts and multiple choice questions) Later we apply each of these concepts to the (6) countries and EU covered on the AP exam.

As the semester progresses students compare and contrast the political systems of the 6 countries studied in comparative politics.  Students use tables and data comparing freedom scores along with the online resource <gapminder.com> to define liberal vs illiberal democracies through the analysis of data and elections procedures.  Students write about and discuss why each country received the rating and propose policy changes that would move the country toward a more liberal democracy.

Readings:

-       Kesselman chapter 1 “Introducing Comparative Politics”

-                   Includes lectures and discussions on sovereignty, power and    authority, institutions, economy

-       O’Neill, Chapter 10 “Globalization”

-       Democratization Briefing Paper

-       Globalization Briefing Paper

-       Soe: readings from Unit 5: Comparative Politics: Some Trends, Issues, and Prospects

-                   “The Global State of Democracy”

-                   “Cultural Explanations: The Man in the Baghdad Café”

-                   “Jihad vs. McWorld”

-       Current Events on key comparative concepts and the 6 countries

Unit II

Mexico:  Transitional Democracy, Presidential and Federal system

Readings:

            -Kesselman chapter 5 “Mexico”

                        - Includes lectures and discussions on sovereignty, power and                                         authority, institutions, economy

            -O’Neill, Chapter 9, “Less Developed and Newly Industrializing Countries”

-         Soe: “Mexico at an Impasse”

Unit III

Britain:  Consolidated Democracy: Unitary, Parliamentary System

Readings:

-       Kesselman chapter 2 “Britain”

-       O’Neill chapter 7 “Advanced Democracies”

-       Soe “Pluralist Democracies: Country Studies”

Unit IV

European Union

Readings:

-       Kesselman Chapter 9

-       Soe

-                   “ A Survey of Europe”

-                   “European Union Reform: After 5 Days, a Yawn”

-                   “Europe’s Love-Hate Affair With Foreigners”

-       Current Events updates from The Economist and New York Times

Unit V

Russia: Transitional Democracy

Readings:

-       Kesselman chapter 4 “The Russian Federation”

-       O’Neil, Chapter 8 “Communism and Post-Communism”

-       Soe

-                   “Putin Gambles on Raw Power

-                   “Ten Myths About Russia: Understanding and Dealing with Russia’s                  Complexity and Ambiguity”

Unit VI

Nigeria: Transitional Democracy

Readings:

-       Kesselman chapter 6 “Nigeria”

-       Iran Briefing paper

-       Current events articles

Unit VII

Iran: Authoritarian regime

Readings:

-       Kesselman chapter 7 “Iran”

-       Iran briefing paper

-       Current events and Nuclear Issues

Unit VIII

China: Authoritarian Regime

Readings:

-       Kesselman chapter 8 “China”

-       Soe: “China: the Quiet Revolution”

                     “ The Emperor is Far Away”

Teaching Strategies

Lecture and discussion will make up the bulk of instruction.  Much of the lecture and discussion will be student led.  I assign groups tasks and sub topics, such as UK political parties, which they must research and introduce to the class.  Students are also responsible for presenting current events relating to the countries and themes studied in this class.

Student Evaluation

Multiple choice quizzes and tests at the end of each unit. (20%)

Free response questions that focus on definitions, concepts and country-context at the end of each unit. (20%)

2 research papers on the European Union and China (20%)

Homework and in-class assignments including current events (40%)

Specific Requirements for the European Union Paper

For the paper on the European Union you may choose to write on how the EU has changed economic conditions regionally and internationally or you may choose to specialize on how a specific country has responded to the issues presented by the evolving currency  and trade policies.  In either case you should attempt to draw upon several sources with different perspectives.  The paper should be between two and three typed pages with no less than 4 sources.  Include an MLA formatted bibliography with a brief critique of bias and credibility of each source.

Requirements of China Paper

Write a 3-4 page report on a specific topic relating to China.  Your paper must address the following:

1)   Explain why the situation may be defined as an “issue.”  Include different viewpoints and any relevant terms.

2)   Reactions by the government including policy and investment

3)   Future prospects:  What is the likelihood that the issue will be resolved and explain your answer?  Discuss how the situation both impacts and is impacted by world opinion.

Sample research topics

-       Political/economic corruption

-       Recent elections/prospects for future elections

-       Political participation of women and minority groups

-       Current reformist movements

-       Relationship to supranational organizations (United Nations, OPEC, WTO, others)

-       Ethnic/religious conflicts

-       National debt/economic instability

-       Educational issues (access in rural areas)

-       Environmental issues (impact on health policy)